The overall and female and male age group winners were determined by the total of each runner's best 3K, 5K, and 8K race times over the summer trail race series. Thanks to everyone who came out to run each Tuesday night on the trails of the Quarry Road Recreation Area in Waterville!​

Overall: Scott Harrison and Tiana Thomas​

14 and under: Addison Pellerin and Noah Koch

15-19: Elijah Caret​

20-29: Liz Atwood and Cooper Nelson​

30-39: Lyra Collard and Samuel Trafton

40-49: Tracey Cote andRyan Goebel​

50-59: Julie Millard and Brian Morin​

60+: Harold Shaw​

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Thanks also to series sponsors New Balance (Series Sponsor), Inland Hospital (Kids Fun Run Sponsor), and Trailspace (Finish Line Sponsor), and to weekly sponsors The End Zone, Selah Tea Cafe, and The Proper Pig.

Congratulations to Jeff Jones (24:36) of Chelsea and Gabby Schreffler (30:10) of Bethel, winners of the 39th annual, 4.5-mile January Thaw Road Race held on January 21, 2018, in Belgrade. As the top male and female runners they each received $50 gift certificates from New Balance.

There also was a post-race raffle for all runners with movie passes to local movie theaters, $20 gift certificates from local businesses like the Korner Store and Deli in Oakland, and gift certificates from local lumberyards.

A big thank-you to everyone who helped with the race and special thanks to race co-directors Geoff Hill, Ron Paquette, and Gene Roy. Gene was unable to attend this year's January Thaw due to illness, but Central Maine Striders sent Gene the "Get Well" message above and its best wishes.

Also, special thanks to David Colby Young of Maine Running Photos who comes every year regardless of the weather to take pictures of the race and runners. All photos here are courtesy of and credited to David and Maine Running Photos.

Overall and female and male age group winners were determined by the total of each runner's best 3K, 5K, and 8K race times over the summer trail race series. Thanks to everyone who came out to run!​

Overall: Chris Cote and Vanessa Holman

14 and under: Olivia Tiner and Noah Koch

15-19: Natalia Fuentes and Billy Chambers

20-29: Liz Atwood and Forrest Labbe

30-39: Amelia Conlon and Ian Doyle

40-49: Tracey Cote and Ron Peck

50-59: Julie Millard and Jeff Tiner

60+: David Benn

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Thanks also to series sponsors New Balance (Lead Sponsor), Inland Hospital (Fun Run Sponsor), and Trailspace (Start & Finish Line Sponsor), and to weekly sponsors The End Zone, Selah Tea Cafe, Downtown Smoothie, and Big G's Deli.

Congratulations to Ron Peck (28:24) and Julie Millard (35:43), winners of the 38th annual, 4.5-mile January Thaw Road Race held on January 15 in Belgrade.

Thank you to everyone who helped with the race and special thanks to race co-directors Gene Roy and Ron Paquette. Also special thanks to David Colby Young who comes every year regardless of the weather to take pictures of the race and runners. I could not do it without all the help from our team.

Donnajean Pohlman and Ron Paquette before the start of the Mt. Washington Road Race.

By Tom McGuire

On Saturday, June 18, 2016 former Central Maine Striders club president Dean Rasmussen and every runner's favorite mentor, Ron Paquette, each ran their 35th consecutive Mt. Washington Road Race on a picture-perfect day. The challenging race is a 7.6-mile hill climb to the summit of New Hampshire's Mt. Washington via the Mt. Washington Auto Road and climbs more than 4,500 feet.

For his 75th birthday this year, Ron asked his wife, Donnajean Pohlman, to accompany him on his race to the clouds. Having previously run the hill 15 times, she consented to just one more and both were seen with smiles on their faces before and after the event (see photo at right).

Another longtime Strider couple, Rick and Anne-Marie Davee, had strong performances with Anne-Marie medaling with a second place in her division.

Striders were well represented among the 1,153 finishers. We not only had a strong showing of our runners from both Maine and away, but many friends and family enjoyed the day socializing and volunteering.

Thanks to everyone who came out to volunteer. Beth Pilsbury Bridger, my wife, Lyn McGuire, and I served turkey dinner with all the fixin's after the race, and several runners and their families worked on the cleanup crew. (Were you one? Please let us know by sending an email to alicia@macleay.com, so we can add you to this race report.)

Congratulations to Patrick Guerette (21:06) and Stephanie LeBlanc (25:04) the top male and female finishers at the 6th annual Run/Walk for Life 5K held on Saturday, June 25, at Thomas College in Waterville. The race benefited Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area and L.N. Clark Inspiration Network. ​​

Team Hooligan

Place. Name (Time)

Patrick Guerette (21:06)

Stephanie LeBlanc (25:04)

Madison Morin (25:39)

Matt Van Deusen (26:05)

Bruce White (30:05)

Jennifer Lachance (34:51)

Peter Bastow (34.58)

Sara Michaud (35.30)

Mark Jose (35.38)

Jim Moore (40.27)

Shawn Michaud (53.11)

Gary Levesque (53.12)

Kristin Azevedo (54.50)

Darlene Michaud (54.51)

Tracy Welch (54.52)

Lydia Santos (54.52)

Sasha Michaud (54.53)

Sabra Hayden (54.54)

Megan Miklos (55:05)

#280 (55:06)

Anna Pelotte (56:25)

Mike Miklos (56:26)

Jackie Reny (58:15)

Noah Melcher (59:24)

Jessica Collins (59:25)

#282 (59:27)

Brian Gaumond (59.29)

Madeline Provost-Holffman (59.56)

Darylyne Provost (1:00)

#765 (1:01)

Tammy LaCroix (1:01)

Ellie Steward (1:01)

Tom LaGasse (1:03)

Ryan Hiltz (1:03)

Brett Savage (1:03)

Jamie Giuffrida (1:03)

Montana Herbert (1:04)

Joseph Giuffrida (1:04)

Michelle Clark (1:04)

Tonya Clark (1:04)

Jeremy Colman (1:05)

Jan Lacroix (1:05)

Jessica Rogers (1:05

Stephanie LeBlanc accepts the award as first place female finisher at the 2016 Run/Walk for Life 5K from Susan Roy, executive director of Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area.

Hospice Volunteers of Waterville Area (HVWA) is a non-profit organization founded in 1980 that serves 27 communities in Central Maine. It exists to provide non-medical support to individuals and their families during the last phases of life, to loved ones throughout the grieving process, and to educate the community regarding issues related to death and grieving. Bereavement services are available to anyone who has sustained loss either through illness or unexpectedly. HVWA is volunteer based and community funded.

The L.N. Clark Inspiration Network is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, established in 2008. Its goal is to help Maine cancer patients and their families. So many people need support and services in many areas during their medical oncology journey. Its passion is to lighten the burden and stress for the individuals in a meaningful way. A cancer patient's journey is a massive challenge; trying to get help should not be.

Congratulations to Chris Poirier (37:01) and Hannah Raymond (41:38) the men's and women's winners respectively of the second annual Quarry Snow Shuffle 5K snowshoe race. The event was held on Sunday, February 7, at Quarry Road Trails in Waterville.

Thanks to all who joined the race or the 1-mile family fun run/snowshoe walk. All proceeds from the event benefited the nonprofit WinterKids.

Congratulations to Jimmy Minieri (22:48) and Stephanie LeBlanc (25:07) who led the pack to win the HVWA and L.N. Clark Inspiration Network Run/Walk for Life 5K. The race was held May 9 in Waterville and started at Thomas College.